Latest news at Ashmount School......
The Department for Education have issued the latest guidance for schools:
'As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.
And the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.
Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.
Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.
Please, therefore, follow these key principles:
If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision.'
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you for all of your help and support in keeping Ashmount School open.
We fully understand if parents choose to keep their child at home to reduce the risk of infection. There will be no penalties from school if you choose this course of action.
Staff have been fantastic in ensuring that our pupils continue to access the very highest standards of education and care during the current crisis.
The government have announced that all schools will close on Friday 20th March 2020.
However, Ashmount School will continue to remain open from Monday 23rd March 2020.
All of our students have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and the government has committed to continuing to provide education for these children and young people.
Our staffing levels have continued to fall in line with pupil absences due to families being required to self-isolate.
We will continue to add learning resources to the ‘Learning from Home’ section of our school website for those children and young people who are required to self-isolate at home.
We expect school transport services to remain in place.
We are waiting confirmation that our teachers and support staff will be named as key workers and that childcare plans will be put in place for their children so that they can continue to work at Ashmount.
We have plans to run a skeleton staff targeting our most vulnerable students and key worker families if staffing levels fall below what we would deem safe to keep the whole school open.
We will continue to re-assess the situation on a daily basis and provide an update if anything changes, however, please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.
David Deacon
Headteacher
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